11 Marist project managers from Fiji, Kiribati, New Zealand and Samoa gathered at Lomeri, Fiji for a workshop on “Effective Funding for Mission”. The facilitators, Ashley Bulgarelli and Br Allen Sherry of Marist Solidarity, were invited by the District of the Pacific leadership team to commence a more formal relationship with the District’s projects.
The two-day workshop started with an introduction to Marist Solidarity and to the newly developing arm – Marist Volunteers Australia, which included school immersions. Fiji currently hosts four immersion groups each year whilst Kiribati and Samoa are working towards immersions later in the year.
The workshop then moved onto types of funders, project cycle management and then onto the 14 step project proposal writing methodology. Each countries representatives were grouped together as they focused on a real-life project in their school and how to write a strong proposal for this project. It was especially useful for many of the younger Brothers who were new to these processes and to services offered by Marist Solidarity.
There were many positive outcomes to arise from the workshop and has given these project managers the tools to access funding and develop their projects. Our hosts at the Marist Formation Centre in Lomeri treated us with warm Pacific hospitality, including a traditional kava ceremony, and for that we would like to say vinaka.
Ashley Bulgarelli
MSol Team